Suspension units for files

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a device for stowing suspended files comprising a frame which can hang vertically to support a number of files in substantially vertical overlapping relationship and which can be set by strut means to lie at an angle to the vertical or horizontally for easy identification and removal of selected files.

O United States Patent 1 [111 3,741,402

Russell 5] June 26, 1973 SUSPENSION UNITS FOR FILES 403,797 5/1889 [76] Inventor: Sidney Major Russell, Southdown House, Southdown Road, Shawford, 1:289:13) 12/1918 Winchester, England 2,369,348 2/1945 Filed; 6% 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [21] App], No,; 190,888 937,149 3/1948 France 211/104 Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen [30] Foreign Apphcamm. y Data Assistant Examiner -Thomas .l. Holko Dec. 4, 1970 Great Britain 57,623/70 Att0mey hnirie & Smiley [52] US. Cl 211/104, 211/178, 248/126 1 [51] Int. Cl .J B421 15/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 211/104, 118, 46, The ti n pr vid s a d vi e f r sto ing suspended 21 1/47, 43, 2, 178; 248/126, 12, 470, 472; files comprising a fraine which can hang vertically to a I v 312/243, 134 support a number of files in substantially vertical overlapping relationship and" which can be set by strut [56] R f r Cit d means to lie at an angle to the vertical or horizontally UNITED STATES PATENTS for easy identification and removal of selected files.

819,989 5/1906 Gilbert 211/48 2 Claims,.4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUNZB I975 same or 3 FIG.2

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PATENIEDJuN26 ma 3 741402 sum 3 or 5 FIG.4 6

1 SUSPENSION UNITS FOR FILES This invention concerns improvements in suspension units for files. The term Files is used herein to include not only folders for containing correspondence and other papers but documents of other sorts such as maps and drawings which can be attached to, or folded over a substantially horizontal suspension bar.

Realization of the invention in various constructional forms stems from the concept that changing the attitude of parallel members from which files are suspended can be utilized to cater for minimal storage space and easy selection and removal of a required file.

According to the invention, from one aspect, I provide a file suspension unit comprising a substantially rectangular frame, two opposite side members of which are provided with matching series of retaining means for tile suspension bars, means for pivotally suspending a third side of the frame from a fixed suspension point with the said two opposite sides substantially vertical and strut means pivoted to the frame to abut a vertical surface and support the frame with the said two opposite side members at an acute angle to the vertical.

From another point of view, the invention provides a file suspension unit including a pair of parallel side members provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed retainersfor the support of the suspension bars of a number of tiles, means for hanging the unit with the said side members substantially vertical, strut means pivoted to the side members near both ends thereof and interengageable to form a triangular structure which may abut a vertical surface from which the unit may hang to maintain the side members at an acute angle relative thereto, the said strut means, when disengaged from each other, forming substantially vertical supports for maintaining the side members substantially horizontal when they are both disposed upon a flat surface.

Preferably the major components of the unit are made from stiff wire and/or metal plate which may be plated, painted or coated with plastics material.

It may be appreciated that, when the unit is suspended with the side members substantially vertical, a file suspended fromthe uppermost retaining means will also hang substantially vertical, while files suspended from lower retaining means will stack with mutual abutment of their major surfaces all more or less vertical.

When the strut means are operated to maintain the side members at an angle (say 30 to 60)to a vertical surface, the suspension points of bars carrying the files will be spaced over a considerable horizontal distance, making the removal of a chosen file a simple operation. At the same time, file-identifying tags (if used) will be well spread out for selection.

If the unit is fitted withstrut means for support of the frame on a table top or similar horizontal surface, the files will be hanging at mamimum horizontal spread.

The above and other features of the invention are incorporated in one preferred embodiment which will now be described purely as an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal elevation of a unit fully folded for suspension,

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the unit supported by interengaged struts against a vertical surface to position fileretaining bars thereof at an angle thereto, and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the unit supported by the struts thereof upon a horizontal surface.

The unit illustrated in the drawings is designed to take nine files of known and readily available construction.

It has a substantially rectangular frame comprised by a horizontal bent wire structure 1 to which are welded side members 2 and 3 stamped from sheet metal and a base member 4 of bent wire welded to the lower ends of the side members.

A hook 5 of familiar coat-hanger form is welded to the center of the structure 1 and enables the unitto be hung from a wall hook, nail, wardrobe-hanging-bar or the like.

The side members 2 and 3 are formed with matching series of file-retaining members 6 and an upper stop 7.

The lowermembers 4 is forwardly cranked as can be seen from the sideviews, and files supended from the retainers 6 lie behind the forward horizontal part in a neat overlapping relationship with the suspension bars of lower files displaced progressively further forward along the upper sloped surfaces of the retainers 6.

First strut means 8 is made from similar wire as the frame members 1 and 4. Its ends are welded to plate metal lugs 9 which are pivoted on hollow rivets 10. When not in use, the strut may be maintained in a stowed position by springing its upper horizontal part beneath the lowerend of the hook 5. Second strut means 11 are pivoted to hollow rivets 12 through the medium of lugs 13.

When the strut 8 is lowered and interengaged with the bent up end of the strut 11, a triangular structure is formed and the unit is supported at an angle to a vertical surface from which it is suspended (FIG. 3) and files are easily removed and replaced, while identifying tags on their suspension bars are rendered easily visible.

When both struts 8 and 11 are lowered independently of each other, the unit may stand upon a flat surface as shown in FIG. 4, and files, the first of which is prevented from sliding off by the stops 7, are similarly easily handled and identified.

It will be understood that the invention may be carried out in many different constructional forms, using materials of various kinds. For example, wood, laminated plastics and light alloy metals may be employed for construction of the frame, struts and suspension bar retainers; and units may be built with many more or many less retainers than the nine embodied in the preferred example above described.

I claim:

1. A file suspension unit including a pair of parallel side members provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed retainers for the support of the suspension bars of a number of files, means for hanging 'the unit with the said side members substantially vertical, strut means pivoted to the side members near both ends thereof and interengageable to form a triangular structure which may abut a vertical surface from which the unit may hang to maintain the side members at an acute angle relative thereto, the said strut means, when disengaged from each other, forming substantially vertical supports for maintaining the side members substantially horizontal when they are both disposed upon a flat surface.

2. A file suspension unit according to claim 1 in which the side members are formed from sheet metal.

' i ll! l l 

1. A file suspension unit including a pair of parallel side members provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed retainers for the support of the suspension bars of a number of files, means for hanging the unit with the said side members substantially vertical, strut means pivoted to the side members near both ends thereof and interengageable to form a triangular structure which may abut a vertical surface from which the unit may hang to maintain the side members at an acute angle relative thereto, the said strut means, when disengaged from each other, forming substantially vertical supports for maintaining the side members substantially horizontal when they are both disposed upon a flat surface.
 2. A file suspension unit according to claim 1 in which the side members are formed from sheet metal. 